Backstage morale in WWE, which was was not very good over the past several months, was made even worse after Vince McMahon’s live interview with Steve Austin on the WWE Network a few weeks ago.
A lot of the talent felt that McMahon “crapped on just about everyone” except for Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose. There’s also a feeling that McMahon made it clear that those four names were the only ones he sees any top star potential in.
Apparently things got bad enough that Triple H tried some damage control in the form of a speech to the entire WWE roster, which reportedly backfired.
NXT wrestlers are generally very fond of Triple H, however when it comes to the main roster, whatever he said in that speech reportedly lost him a lot of credibility, especially among talent that has been with the company for quite a while.
WWE Starting To DOUBT Roman Reigns As Their Next Top Guy — WrestleMania 31 Plans CHANGING?!
(News from The Wrestling Observer was used in this post. Visit F4WOnline.com for subscription information.)
The following are highlights of the latest blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On the Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper match at RAW: “Ziggler vs. Harper…both men sold well, which is missing in many talent’s game within the business these days, and told a great story of competition and made me feel better about the IC Title status and how it an be heated up. I knew Harper had ‘it’ when I watched him down in NXT and Ziggler has been ready for ‘prime time’ for a good while now. I like how WWE has begun to utilize Dolph.”
On the Seth Rollins vs. John Cena match at RAW: “Rollins vs. Cena….nice chemsty..competitive…and we got a clean winner and a disgruntled loser who will want redemption. Leaving fans feeling empty with a impotent count out or disqualification can do more harm than good in any promotion.”
On The Ascension vignettes: “Interesting Ascension vignettes…almost Road Warrior-esque which will be interesting to see how the audience accepts. WWE needs a hot, fan favorite tag team for Ascension to come in and ravage to get the fan’s attention.”
On Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt at RAW: “Loved the effort of Ambrose vs. Rollins and I’m a fan of each talent but I felt like they depended too much on weaponry in their match. Less is more especially after we’ve seen the recent TLC PPV plus other cage matches recently. These two beat the hell out of each other….again.”
On The New Day faction: “Really curious as to how “New Day” is going to be accepted by the fans once they are launched officially IE in earnest. Today’s fans don’t seem to be too willing to provide second chances. I’d surmise that dressing in Carolina Blue and espousing such positivity that today’s wrestling fan may be a little hard on the talented trio who I happen to like personally and professionally. These three need to be special and draw positive attention to themselves by what they do in the ring and how they present themselves. If it’s the same old stuff, it won’t work. This sis where talents need to brainstorm and strategize on what they can do differently while they are being repackaged.”
Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can also order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.
As we reported on Monday night after WWE RAW, an angle was shot involving Bray Wyatt and Dean Ambrose immediately after their “Miracle on 34th Street Fight” on the show.
The angle featured Ambrose diving off of a ladder onto Wyatt, which according to one fan report, resulted in Wyatt being injured, loaded into an ambulance and taken off to a hospital.
Apparently, Wyatt was loaded into an ambulance, however he was not taken to a hospital. It’s possible that this was filmed for next week’s WWE television, however that is purely speculation at this point.
For those who missed it, you can read the original report, which includes photos of the angle, by clicking here.
As promised, here are the top pay-per-view events from 2014.
8. NXT Takeover
This event started off sluggish but certainly ended with a string of entertaining matches. In particular, the match between Tyler Breeze and Sami Zayn featured solid in-ring work and highlighted why both of these guys could succeed if given the opportunity.
The real treat during this pay-per-view, however, was the final two matches of the evening. The match between Charlotte and Natalya for the vacant NXT Women’s Championship was probably the most technically sound women’s match I’ve ever seen, and the main event between Neville and Tyson Kidd was the perfect way to end the show. In my opinion, this was the event that made fans realize NXT is more than simply a developmental league for the main roster.
Worst Match: Adam Rose vs. Camacho
Best Match: Charlotte vs. Natalya
7. Payback
There was some worry heading into this one, largely due to the absence of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The event would carry on just fine without the title, however. It started off strong with a bruising contest between Sheamus and Cesaro.
From there, the Last Man Standing match was entertaining, even if it would have been nice to see Wyatt pick up the victory. With that said, this pay-per-view is all about the main event. It was an awesome 30-minute affair that featured memorable spots, brutal action, and a decisive Shield victory. This was also important because it would set up Seth Rollins’ heel turn the next night on Raw.
After Monday’s WWE RAW went off the air, Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt continued to brawl. Ambrose brought another table out, which led to Wyatt offering a handshake. Ambrose hit him with Dirty Deeds instead and then put him on the table.
Ambrose climbed a ladder and dove onto Wyatt, which got a huge pop from the crowd.
Referees checked on Wyatt, who indicated that he was injured. After being tended to by medical staff, he was eventually taken out of the arena and ambulance. Wyatt was then transported to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.
We’ll post an update on the situation as soon as it becomes available.
Credit to Raj Giri of WrestlingINC.com for information used in this report.
– WWE has announced that WWE Hall Of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper will be on tonight’s RAW. Piper will be hosting a special “Piper’s Pit” segment with Rusev and Lana as the guests.
– Also announced for tonight’s RAW is a “Miracle on 34th Street Match” between Bray Wyatt and Dean Ambrose.
– As noted earlier, Roman Reigns vs. Big Show has also been made official for tonight’s show.
– WWE Hall Of Famer Hulk Hogan is scheduled to serve as the guest host of tonight’s Christmas-themed edition of the show.
ORIGINAL STORY:
WWE has announced a singles match between Roman Reigns and Big Show for tonight’s Christmas-themed edition of WWE RAW.
Also announced for tonight’s show is the return of WWE Hall Of Famer Hulk Hogan.
Make sure to join us here tonight for live RAW play-by-play results coverage.
2014 is coming to a close. Aside from two episodes of Raw that most likely be forgettable, fans have seen everything the WWE has to offer this year. Here is a look back at all 16 pay-per-views (including NXT), with each event ranked and summarized.
16. Battleground
This event took place during July, and boy was it a hot mess. The opening contest between the Usos and Wyatt Family was money, but it was downhill from there, as fans were subjected to one dud contest after another.
The biggest mistakes involved advertising a Rollins/Ambrose match that didn’t take place, and using the same predictable ending sequence during the main event. Overall, this was completely forgettable and easily the worst pay-per-view of the year.
Worst Match: Chris Jericho vs. Bray Wyatt
Best Match: The Usos vs. The Wyatt Family
15. TLC
The final pay-per-view of the year was certainly not the best the company has to offer. Overall, this event suffered from a thin roster and overcomplicated booking. Like many pay-per-view events, it started off strong before derailing.
Ziggler and Harper stole the show during the opening contest. However, lame gimmicks (Stairs/Chairs Matches) and cheesy endings (Wyatt/Ambrose, Cena/Rollins) really held this event back and prevented it from being a success.
– Vince McMahon, Big Show, R-Truth, Summer Rae and Alicia Fox went overseas to visit the U.S. troops this weekend. You can check out an assortment of photos from the trip at WWE.com.
– WWE will be taping next Friday’s edition of SmackDown tonight in Sioux City, Iowa. Hulk Hogan is advertised to make a special appearance. Other talent advertised for the show includes Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Kane, Bray Wyatt, and Big Show. The dark match main event for the show will be Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt.
As noted in the past, WWE has been planning on having Roman Reigns win the Royal Rumble match in January and go on to defeat Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31. At this point, however, there is beginning to be some skepticism regarding whether or not Reigns is ready for that big of a push.
Despite the fact that Reigns is viewed as someone who needs to work on his promo skills, and as someone who isn’t good enough to carry lengthy main-event singles matches on big shows, WWE is in need of a new top babyface star and the belief is that spot is his regardless.
While WWE has plans on continuing Randy Orton’s babyface turn, he is not a new star. Daniel Bryan is not what WWE wants in a top babyface star, no matter how fans react to him. Additionally, there’s uncertainties with Bryan due to his neck and arm injuries.
This leaves Reigns and Dean Ambrose as the two leading candidates for the top babyface spot. Ambrose is a better in-ring performer and delivers better promos, however he fits less into WWE’s mold of what they view as a top babyface star.
While Ambrose and Reigns both do strong merchandise numbers, including Ambrose’s new hoodie being number one during Thanksgiving week, neither are doing the type of numbers that a top guy traditionally does on a consistent basis.
Despite all of this, the belief is that WWE will stick with their plans for Reigns heading into WrestleMania, as he is still considered the top choice by the top people behind-the-scenes.
Sometimes things work out. Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins.
Other times, things don’t. Adam Rose, Bo Dallas, Fandango.
After last week’s NXT Takeover: R Evolution special, which fans are still raving about a week later, it became crystal clear to me that WWE is developing a number of future Superstars that have the potential to lead the company into the next generation.
Today, we are going to look at ten current performers/acts in the NXT system that I feel have the best shot at achieving success on the main WWE roster. With that being said, lets jump right into the list at number ten….
#10. The Lucha Dragons
The Lucha Dragons — Kalisto and Sin Cara, two talents that as individuals could flourish, but as a unit, make up one of the best tag-teams in WWE’s developmental system. Their ring work is solid and entertaining. Crowd pleasing. The gimmick is another story, but unfortunately, with WWE being in the middle of their PG-era, gimmicks and characters such as these two are unavoidable.
With that being said, they are what they are, and that’s a great tag-team combination. They’re the Los Matadores, only better. That’s not a knock against them, despite the fact it could be seen as one. If they remain under their current gimmick, it’s pretty much a given that they’ll never reach past mid-card, comedy-team status, but like I said, we’re going to have that one way or the other. Since that’s the case, it might as well be two guys who are as talented as these two.
I think it’s a given that these two guys will eventually make it to the main roster, and equally as predictable is the way in which they’ll be used. They’ll be two guys in a tag-team division on the main WWE roster that isn’t worth much, but for whatever it is worth, these two guys have the potential to be among the top teams in the company. While that’s not saying much, it’s saying something, and in this day and age, you pretty much have to take what you can get if you’re an aspiring wrestler.
#9. Tyler Breeze
Much like The Lucha Dragons, I feel that Tyler Breeze is an extremely talented worker, but is unfortunately stuck in a lame-duck gimmick. On social media, I’ve read a lot of comments that makes it seem like fans are actually believers of the Tyler Breeze gimmick in the sense that it could actually go somewhere on the main roster.
I am not one of those believers.
I’m of the opinion that if Breeze jumps to the main roster and is used with the same exact character that he has now, it’s one that has a ceiling that comes with it. This type of character can only go so far. Think of talents like Fandango and Adam Rose and how they are positioned on the main roster, and you’ve got my opinion of how Breeze would be used in this type of role.
If they were to change his gimmick, he certainly has the potential to go further than this type of character would allow. He’s got the talent in the ring, he has a unique charisma about him and he’s got a great look. His promo work is decent, nothing to ride home about in my opinion, but he’s got enough tools to work with that if he was given a different type of character, it would be interesting to see how far he could take it. Maybe if they started a character-change in NXT and let it grow a bit, that would be the route to take in terms of preparing him for a call up to the big leagues.
Whether or not that ever happens is another subject entirely.
During the post-TLC edition of WWE RAW, a couple of announcements were made regarding this coming Tuesday night’s live edition of WWE SmackDown.
First, a graphic was shown of Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt. The announcers hyped up the fact that both men will be under the same roof following their “TLC Match” at Sunday’s TLC pay-per-view.
Later on during RAW another graphic was shown, this time of Roman Reigns. It was announced that Roman Reigns “returns to action” on this week’s SmackDown.
Make sure to visit us here on Tuesday night for live results coverage of the live edition of WWE SmackDown.
– In this video, Rikishi challenges Kim Kardashian to a “Booty Contest.”
The former WWE Superstar was at the Miracle on 1st Street Christmas Toy Giveaway in Los Angeles, California, when he brought up his sizable posterior and challenged Kardashian to come down to his wrestling school and take part in the contest.
– As seen last night at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs … and Stairs, Dean Ambrose lost to Bray Wyatt in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match. In a trivia note, this loss extended Ambrose’s winless drought on pay-per-view since The Shield disbanded in June. In addition to WWE TLC, “The Lunatic Fringe” has lost matches at Money in the Bank (to Seth Rollins in a Money in the Bank Ladder Match), WWE Battleground (to Seth Rollins in a singles match via forfeit), SummerSlam (to Seth Rollins in a Lumberjack Match), Hell in a Cell (to Seth Rollins in a Hell in a Cell Match) and Survivor Series (to Bray Wyatt via disqualification).
– Sunday at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs … and Stairs, WWE.com reported that AJ Lee was tended to by physicians after a scary incident in which Divas Champion Nikki Bella blinded her with hairspray. The report has since been slightly changed, as it is now noted that she was blinded with “unidentified spray.”
The physicians’ quick treatment of Lee helped prevent any long-term damage to her vision.
The following are highlights from the latest blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On the Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper match: “Thought the first match featuring Ziggler vs. Harper for the IC Title in a Ladder match was a great start and arguably the best match on the show. They were lucky to get the live audience fresh and they did not have to follow several other specialty matches. These two needed medical attention after their match which should come as no surprise. Harper got five staples in his head while Ziggler got a cut glued shut. I actually had a cut glued shut after being schooled by HHH in Madison Square Garden many years ago. It beats the heck out of stitches ”
On the John Cena vs. Seth Rollins match: “Liked the position on the card for Cena vs. Rollins and the Reigns involvement was timely. It’s smart to have a long window to promote Cena vs. Lesnar for the WWE Title at the Royal Rumble in January which should stimulate January subscribers for the Network. Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury certainly earned their keep in this match in their role of J&J Security. I’ll say this, John Cena is beastly strong.”
On Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt: “Happy that young talents Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt closed the show for multiple reasons that all essentially come down to perception. These two beat the Hell out of each other, without question, and both took another step forward to becoming main event talents. I applaud their work ethic and willingness to put their bodies at such risk. Going on last after everything that was done in the ring earlier makes it tremendously challenging and I don’t know how Ambrose and Wyatt could have done any more.”
On TLC compared to NXT Takeover: R Evolution: “As much as I enjoyed many aspects of the TLC show, it wasn’t quite as good, merely in my opinion, as the overall @WWENXT show, from start to finish, that I watched Thursday night from Orlando.”
Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can also order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.
The WWE Network aired a brief TLC “Fallout” post-show after last night’s pay-per-view. The show opened with the panel, which featured Renee Young, Booker T, Alex Riley and Paul Heyman. Heyman spoke about John Cena winning his “Tables Match” tonight, which earned him the right to face WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar for the title at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Heyman praised Cena, saying he’s the best — besides Lesnar.
Dean Ambrose was shown in the ring recovering from the television monitor exploding on him. Ambrose destroyed what was left of the monitor.
On commentary, Michael Cole promoted the Cena vs. Lesnar match and pointed out that it will be the final meeting between the two.
– Reddit.com user MetsFan4Ever, a former WWE backstage worker, offered insight into the atmosphere backstage at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio for tonight’s WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs … and Stairs event following NXT: R Evolution.
He wrote, “I’m told tensions are at a fever pitch and have been all day. Many guys on the card tonight want to go out of their way to be the match of the night. The feeling is that a small company rivalry has started between the main roster and the NXT roster. Many agree that is good for all sides involved.
“What is usually a lighter atmosphere many hours before doors open is not the case today. I’m told that it is very quiet backstage and that talent is very focused on the show tonight. They know the NXT show is going to be considered “show of the year” among many and they want this TLC show to rival or top it.
“Many of the main matches have already been rehearsed. There was a giant black curtain covering the ringside area so nobody outside of the main players know what is going to happen tonight.”
– In this video, Emma shows you how to make protein pancakes.
– WWE.com issued this poll asking fans who will inflict the most damage in tonight’s TLC Match at WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs … and Stairs.
The following are highlights of the latest blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On Mike Tenay and TNA rumors: “Read online where I allegedly called and talked to Impact Wrestling officials attempting to get my friend Mike Tenay as my broadcast partner for Wrestle Kingdom 9. What was reported on the internet was leaked, and not by me, and largely erroneous. I texted TNA saying that it would be great exposure for the voice of their brand and that we could talk about Impact’s launch to a new network coming up later that week. Obviously, I would have treated Mike with the utmost respect but TNA brass declined the invite. That’s the truth of the matter. It’s a dead issue and no hard feelings but I can’t see the downside of Mike Tenay and I broadcasting the NJPW PPV as it relates to Impact Wrestling specifically as it relates to me. Nonetheless it’s not happening and Global Force Wrestling moves on to the next candidate of which there are some good ones.”
On the WWE TLC pay-per-view main event: “I hope that Ambrose vs. Wyatt closes the show in their TLC Main Event as I feel it sends a positive message to the locker room, the fan base and all involved. I do expect some viable surprises during the show which should build momentum for January’s new subscribers or renewals especially with the Royal Rumble included for, yes, you’ve got it, $9.99.”
On who his broadcast partner will be for Wrestle Kingdom 9: “Still no word on who will work with me broadcasting the Wrestle Kingdom 9 PPV from Tokyo on January 4 but I’m told that we are getting closer. This is an epic assignment as the event is four hours long, is a helluva flight from Oklahoma to Tokyo, and it features many talents that I’ve never seen wrestle in person but have spends hours watching their matches and reading about them. This assignment will be one of the more challenging that I’ve ever had in my career but I couldn’t be more excited. I love the challenge of delivering the goods and overcoming language issues, long travel and working with an all new TV crew who mostly does not understand English from what I’m told.”
Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can also order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.
The final pay-per-view of 2014 is only a few hours away, and there should be enough tables, ladders, and chairs to fill a large dining hall. (I’m not entirely sure that I’ve seen a ladder in a college dining hall, but whatever.) The card will feature a total of nine matches, including a main event featuring Seth Rollins and John Cena. With that said, here are my predictions for this Sunday’s TLC pay-per-view.
The New Day vs. Gold and Stardust
The New Day hasn’t done much since returning from a brief hiatus, as they’ve been largely relegated to SmackDown and other programs that aren’t worth watching. However, they’ve looked impressive the few times they’ve been on Raw and all three are above average workers. The New Day has more to gain from a win here, so I’m expecting Big E finish off Stardust after hitting the Big Ending.
Winners: The New Day by pinfall
Ryback vs. Kane (Chairs Match)
Each December, fans can usually look forward to a Chairs Match at TLC. It’s like receiving a Christmas gift you didn’t request or care to receive. You put a smile on your face, do your best to enjoy it, but nine times out of ten, it ends in disappointment. This year’s edition should be no different. Nobody would want to see these guys square off in a singles contest, and throwing a few chairs into the mix will do little to save it. Ryback will win after a “brutal” match where the two exchange chair shots to the back for ten minutes.
Winner: Ryback by pinfall
The Miz and Damien Mizdow (Tag Team Champions) vs. The Usos
This contest should be an entertaining way to fill ten to fifteen minutes of the midcard. Mizdow is perhaps the hottest thing in WWE right now, so I expect he and the Miz to go over. However, it likely won’t be without some dissension. Overall, this should be an entertaining contest with a lot of back and forth action. If booked correctly, it should advance the tension between Miz and Mizdow, hopefully leading to a payoff at WrestleMania.
The following are highlights of a new Chad Dukes Wrestling Show interview with Bray Wyatt
On the image projected from the lantern during the Hell in a Cell finish: “One thing and I want to get this out there so no one’s misconstrued, that was not Abigail… I don’t think anyone has looked closely enough. I think everyone skipped over that part and chocked it up to being some fancy illusion or something. I don’t ever do something just to be doing it. There’s always a point behind everything.”
On the Wyatt Family: “There is no breakup. That’s another thing I’d like to get out there. There’s friction between [Harper & Rowan] and that’s kinda part of the issue, is relinquishing some of that. When the Wyatt family is needed, the Wyatt Family will always be, and that’s the way I designed it, and that’s the way it will go on for ten, fifteen, who knows how long. The Wyatt Family is far from over, I can assure you of that. “I’m very proud of [Rowan], sometimes. He’s done some things since we split that I haven’t necessarily agreed with. I’m not so sure he’s a genius with a big IQ, I’m actually a hundred percent sure of that. [Laughs] But Harper is the Intercontinental Champion and that’s exactly where he belongs and why he needed to go out on his own. Because Harper is one of the greatest, most malicious entities in the entire WWE. He should be free to go after things like that.”
On Dean Ambrose: “This feud with me and Dean, if you look back at the Shield and all that, me and Dean Ambrose years ago would just be killing each other with bull ropes in armories all over Florida in front of ten people. I think it will go on forever. As long as we both can walk and survive after TLC.”
On Dream Matches: “I couldn’t help but notice that me and Steve had this natural chemistry together. I wish he’d lace the boots up. I’d really like to steal a couple shows with him… I still have my set matches that I think that I can possibly accomplish, but there’s four names that always keep reoccurring that would be big enough to be my dream matches: Jake Roberts, Steve Austin, Undertaker, & Sting. I want to get all four of those in my career and I’d like to. I’m not saying it’s not a possibility, I think I could get all four of those.”
On the Brass Ring comment: “I heard about the brass ring and all that, as far as I’m concerned my fingertips are already grasping that sucker right now. And if I don’t, if I never grab that sucker, I’m at least gonna yank it down and everyone’s coming down with me.”
WWE will attempt to deliver an early Christmas present this Sunday during its annual TLC pay-per-view. It will be the last pay-per-view of 2014, and should also be the last special event before Brock Lesnar’s return to the ring. The card is set, but how will it play out? Here are 5 potential shockers for Sunday’s TLC.
5. Mizdow Turns on The Miz
It seems obvious that the Miz and his stunt double will be breaking up sooner rather than later, and for good reason, as Mizdow is perhaps the most over superstar in the WWE.
There was tension once again during Monday’s Slammy Awards after the Miz accepted his partner’s award on his behalf. Although their time together seems to be limited, I’d be shocked if the two break up on Sunday. It would make more sense to have the dissolution occur at the Royal Rumble, setting up a WrestleMania payoff that could be one of the top matches on the midcard.
Here are some highlights from Chris Jericho’s recent interview with Wrestling101.com:
If He Thinks CM Punk Will Ever Return To WWE:
“That is something you will have to ask CM Punk, I haven’t spoken to him about it. I do know in 2005 I was very burned out from wrestling and I left for two and a halfyears. If Punk does come back it might take a while because when you’re burned out your done, like I said it took me two and half years before I decided I wanted to come back.”
“A lot of people forget that I left for quite a long period of time. It is a tough life, there is a lot of pressure and a lot of politics, you go through a lot of shit. If you’re not there 100% it can really drag you down that’s for sure.”
Who He Wants To Work With When He Returns To WWE For Another Run:
“When the time comes for me to go back, if I have some time and they’re willing to have me back I will look through the roster and see what works and makes sense. Seth Rollins is great, Dean Ambrose is great, I think Daniel Bryan as a babyface v myself as a heel would tear the house down.”
“There are a lot of great guys but it all depends on what they’ve got going on and what I’ve got going on. The last thing they are going to be doing is waiting around for Chris Jericho to come back, so when the time comes we will see what is going on and who is doing what with who and make some decisions from there.”
Comparing Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman:
“Vince is the best boss I’ve ever had. The other guys were good bosses but to me they were just small time independent guys as far as the companies they had. Being in ECW and WCW for me was all about getting into WWE and I didn’t really care about anything else. Vince is the best boss I’ve ever had in the business and I wouldn’t work for anyone else but him and I haven’t for the last few years.”
– Tessa Blanchard, daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Tully Blanchard, made her RAW debut last night as one of Adam Rose’s Rosebuds. Blanchard is a top indy prospect and was rumored to be getting a WWE tryout over the weekend.
– WWE had their security team remove a fan sign that read, “Someone check my staph infection” that was in the crowd at last Monday’s RAW in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The sign was in reference to CM Punk revealing that WWE had ignored what turned out to be a staph infection that he was suffering from.
– WWE posted a storyline update on the “condition” of Dean Ambrose following his attack at the hands of Bray Wyatt on last week’s SmackDown. WWE noted that Ambrose has now been medically cleared to wrestle.
WWE Superstar Bray Wyatt was recently a guest on the Chad Dukes Wrestling Show. Bray spoke about a number of topics, including the controversial hologram from the conclusion of WWE’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, Sister Abigail and his former Wyatt Family members, Rowan and Harper.
Regarding the hologram that appeared at the end of the Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose match at Hell in a Cell, Wyatt said:
“One thing and I want to get this out there so no one’s misconstrued, that was not Abigail. I don’t think anyone has looked closely enough. I think everyone skipped over that part and chocked it up to being some fancy illusion or something. I don’t ever do something just to be doing it. There’s always a point behind everything.”
He added that the Wyatt Family is not officially broken up, despite Rowan and Harper’s recent feud.
“There is no breakup. That’s another thing I’d like to get out there. There’s friction between [Harper & Rowan] and that’s kinda part of the issue, is relinquishing some of that. When the Wyatt Family is needed, the Wyatt Family will always be, and that’s the way I designed it, and that’s the way it will go on for ten, fifteen, who knows how long. The Wyatt Family is far from over, I can assure you of that.”
Regarding the recent revelation that Erick Rowan is apparently a genius, Wyatt said:
“He’s done some things since we split that I haven’t necessarily agreed with. I’m not so sure he’s a genius with a big IQ, I’m actually a hundred percent sure of that. [Laughs] But Harper is the Intercontinental Champion and that’s exactly where he belongs and why he needed to go out on his own.”
Wyatt is currently engaged in a heated feud with Dean Ambrose, an opponent that he’s been dealing with for years.
“This feud with me and Dean, if you look back at the Shield and all that, me and Dean Ambrose years ago would just be killing each other with bull ropes in armories all over Florida in front of ten people. I think it will go on forever. As long as we both can walk and survive after TLC.”
WWE Announces Record-Setting Thanksgiving Weekend Sales on WWEShop.com
On Black Friday, WWE recorded its single biggest online sales day ever, drawing a 44% increase in sales on WWEShop.com compared to last year’s record-setting day. WWE also broke records on Cyber Monday, with sales +32% year-over-year, making it the No 2. best-selling day on WWEShop.com ever.
